2016-03-30 00:00:002016-03-30 00:00:00https://quickbooks.intuit.com/ca/resources/cash-flow/how-to-prepare-a-cash-flow-statementCash FlowEnglishCash flow statements provide you with information about how much money flows into your business, how much flows out, and what is left over.https://quickbooks.intuit.com/ca/resources/ca_qrc/uploads/2016/03/How-to-Prepare-a-Cash-Flow-Statement1.jpghttps://quickbooks.intuit.com/ca/resources/cash-flow/how-to-prepare-a-cash-flow-statement/How to Prepare a Cash Flow Statement

How to Prepare a Cash Flow Statement

4 min read

4 min read

Cash flow in your business can resemble the waves of an ocean, with revenue washing in and payments for expenses flowing out. A picture of cash flow is not easy to capture because the ebb and flow of money in your business is constantly changing. Still, you need a handle on your cash flow so you can spot trends in cash management and keep your company solvent.

Importance of the Cash Flow Statement

Your company may have revenues and appear profitable, but slow collections of invoiced sales can impede its ability to meet your current financial obligations. Delayed payments to employees, vendors and other creditors can be massively detrimental to your business, so, to get a picture of your cash flow over a specified period of time, create a cash flow statement.

A look back over a specific period of time (typically a quarter) enables you to look forward for the next period to ensure you have the funds on hand to pay your bills.

Creating a Picture of Cash Flow

The cash flow statement shows changes in your cash on hand (including funds in your bank account and short-term investments that you can easily convert to cash). The cash flow statement reflects the activities of your business:

Operating activities: Inflow from operating activities includes revenue from selling products and/or services, interest and dividends that the business receives, and other cash receipts. Outflow from operating activities includes payroll costs (i.e. wages, benefits and employment taxes), payments to suppliers and vendors, overhead costs (i.e. rent, utilities, insurance, etc.), income taxes and other taxes of the business, and other operations-related cash payments.

Investing activities: Inflow from investment activities includes sales of business assets other than inventory, payments received from loans that your business made, and other sales that are not in the normal course of business. Outflow includes purchases of capital equipment and loans that you make.

Indirect method: This method is more complicated. It starts with net income and factors in depreciation.

The method you choose depends on the information you need from your cash flow statement.

Creating Your Cash Flow Statement

To create a cash flow statement manually, review your income and expenses in each of the three categories discussed above. Use a self-created spreadsheet or template to organize your data into a cash flow statement (you can download a free cash flow statement template here). Essentially, your entries show cash in and cash paid out each month for the period of your cash flow statement (e.g. a year).

In addition, you can easily create a cash flow statement based on an accounting system, such as QuickBooks. Having recorded your income and expenses on a regular basis, your accounting software has the information needed to automatically generate a cash flow statement without the need to input each item of income or expense from your business activities.

Reviewing and Projecting Cash Flow

Looking back over the quarter is helpful in knowing where your money went and seeing trends in your business activities. Just as important is looking ahead to make sure you’ll have the funds on hand to meet upcoming obligations. What are your upcoming expenses? What do you project your future revenue to be? Again, look ahead for a specific period, such as the next quarter or the next year, and use the information in your books to generate your projections.

The projections help you decide actions to take, such as cutting expenses if too much money is going out compared with revenue coming in, or seeking a short-term infusion of capital if cash on hand isn’t enough to pay upcoming bills. Once again, it’s up to you to monitor your projections and review your business activities so you can make adjustments accordingly.

Conclusion

Cash is essential for keeping your company afloat. Make sure you have a good understanding of where your money comes from and when, as well as where your money is spent so you can meet your financial obligations. Use a cash flow statement as well as cash flow projections to clarify your company’s position on cash. If you have any concerns about creating or understanding your cash flow statement and projections, work with a CPA or other knowledgeable financial specialist.

Information may be abridged and therefore incomplete. This document/information does not constitute, and should not be considered a substitute for, legal or financial advice. Each financial situation is different, the advice provided is intended to be general. Please contact your financial or legal advisors for information specific to your situation.